What "the mid-nineteenth-century look" has in common with 1940s?

Hi there!
I'm new to the forum, I need someone's expertise in fashion history.
In the book The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester came across this sentence:
"The silhouettes were as different from the mid-nineteenth-century look that was so pervasive right then and also so infantilizing that Estella heard at least one or two exclamations".
As far as the novel itself is about 1940s, it made me curious what "the mid-nineteenth-century look" could actually have to do with all this.
What "the mid-nineteenth-century look" has in common with 1940s?

I would be grateful if you help me out.
thanks!

 

No, Estella is wearing nothing. Estella is a Parisian Seamstress who immigrated to America because of the WWII. But she wants to become a fashion designer, so, she organizes a show to sell some of the dresses she had made before.
The silhouettes the author is referring to are the ones of the dresses created by Estrella.

 

could you please attach some photos?

 

oh... and that could be considered somewhat "Victorian" look back then? It makes sense. Looks very much alike.

 

It's such an unusual thing... Victorian era amidst of 1940s... I would never even thought it could exist back then...
Thank you.

 

"Gone With The Wind" had a pretty good influence on American fashion for a few years in the late 30s and early to mid 40s. And even a few major Paris Haute Couture designers (like Dior) were showing dresses with bustle backs around 1938, but not influenced by the American film.

 

Is the book a work of fiction? I have a blouse with the label "Estella" and it dates to the 1940s.

Yes, Maggie, we cross posted!

 

yes, that's a work of fiction

 

Could you please attach some photo so that I could get the idea properly?
I've read the book, but never actually watched the movie.

 

But that influenced only evening dresses, am I right that It had nothing to do with day dresses fashion

 

Oh! I've found this

https://iamhist.net/2020/03/glamour-vivien-leigh-film-costumes-dressmaking-patterns/

 

Your inquiry made me remember a dress that I once asked about here, a late 40s/early 50s Lord & Taylor dress I have in my collection: